The Upholder

Structural supports are barely noticed - things such as beams and joists, columns and pillars. We confidently walk underneath them, giving no thought to the danger should they fail to do what they do. Life has a way of crashing and crushing us; it is compounded when the crash and crush comes and you never saw it coming; sometimes it causes overwhelming hurt and disappointment. The silent suffering can become so heavy it seems too much to bear. For every circumstance God says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV). Perhaps there are no more trustworthy words than "I will uphold you." Furthermore, He promises His continual Presence, His strength and His help ... as He upholds us! When we feel betrayed - He upholds us. When the hurt is deep and long - He upholds us. Similarly, as those structural supports provide strength and protection, God's right hand - His perfect strength - keeps us. We can trust in and rely on this truth - God has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). For His children, God is and will always be ... The Upholder.

Student of The Word

What delivers relaxation to you? For me, I've loved floating in a pool or swinging in a porch swing. The younger-busier me struggled to find time for those things; now, the older and less busy me fails to make the time to do them. It seems at every age and season of life, there are choices! The outcome of choices we make are rarely fully realized the moment we first make them. Twenty-eight years ago I, like Ezra (7:10), "set my heart" to study the Word of God. At age forty, I had "read" lots of Scripture, heard many sermons, memorized tons of verses but had taken little time to "study" God's Word. "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130 ESV). Like peeling back the petals of a rose in full bloom releases its richest fragrance, so is a deeper understanding of the heart of God revealed when we do more than just read-the-words - study, dig deeper into the words truest meaning. I've often repeated this: "the Bible is the only book you'll ever read where the Author is always present." Let me encourage you to do more than just "read" God's Word - let God's words soak into your heart, mind, soul, every fabric of your being. As you do this, you're no longer just a reader - you're a ... student of The Word!

He Sees Me!

Are you sometimes troubled with the notion that no one knows nor cares about your troubles? A famous slavery-era spiritual goes, "nobody knows the trouble I've seen," - words we are also tempted to sing! Psalm 33:13 says, "The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man." Although we may forget, God is never detached from any circumstance or situation we are in! Consider His judgment on the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah: before He judged their sin, He made a personal visit and extended grace to the righteous! We may joke about it but according to Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7, God numbers the very hairs of our head. That's not the move of one who doesn't care! Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Think not that God sits on high taking no account of thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee." Yes, the eyes of The Father look upon the whole earth, giving strength to His saints (2 Chronicles 16:9). That old spiritual song continues: "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen - Nobody knows but Jesus." How comforting and encouraging it is to know we are never alone nor are we out of the knowledge of, care and keeping of our all-knowing Father. "Oh! then repeat the truth that never tires - No God is like the God m soul desires - He at whose voice heaven trembles even He - Great as He is, knows how to stoops to me." Our God is El Roi ... He sees me!

The Enthroned Heart

As an 8th grade student, I visited Georgia's Capitol and met [then] Governor Jimmy Carter. He greeted me, shook my hand, posed for a picture with me; he even let me sit in the Governor’s chair. I proudly framed that picture and hung it in our first home. Yeah, I know ... big deal! God’s Throne Room – have you ever thought about it? Being in the presence of the few celebrities I've met through the years did seem like a big deal but the Throne Room of Almighty God, The Creator and King of the universe ... certainly, nothing compares. Psalm 29:10 says, “The LORD sits enthroned as King forever.” The Jews revered their Temple; not just because of its beauty and the holy things inside, but they understood and acknowledged it represented God's very Presence. How foolish to consider the luxuriousness of God’s Throne Room; it's The King Himself Who makes the Throne Room ... the Throne Room! David describes It as where God sits (is set) as The King for forever over His people – those who faithfully love, honor and obey Him. We know, of course, God’s dwelling place is no longer a place made with hands but rather the human heart, the hearts of those who have believed in Jesus (the saved, redeemed). I wonder just what kind of dwelling place I’ve made for The King of Glory. Is He forced to share my heart with things of this world or selfish ambitions and arrogant pride? That framed picture of me and Jimmy has long been forgotten and packed away. Oh, how God longs to enthrone the hearts of Believers! It may not seem like such a big deal, but hearts captivated by Christ frame the Beauty of God's Holiness! Nothing honors The Father more than ... the enthroned heart.

Blog Break

 MWB will resume Tuesday 09-29-2026
Stay in The Word
Miles of Smiles, Beverly